University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Iowa
Women's Basketball Upset by Iowa at Big Ten Tournament
3/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Iowa (16-13) was shooting 63 percent from the floor when the Hawkeyes took their biggest lead of the game at 32-22 with 3:33 left in the first half. The Gophers forced Iowa into four turnovers in its next five possessions helping Minnesota claw back to within 36-33 at halftime. Minnesota came up empty in their last offensive possession of the half, with a Whalen jumper and an open Corrin Von Wald three-pointer bouncing out of the basket.
The Hawkeyes finished the first half shooting 56.5 percent from the field. The Gopherss meanwhile struggled, hitting only 34.4 percent making 11 of 32 attempts.
Minnesota began the second half with fire and intensity and mounted an early second-half lead. The Gophers recovered from its shooting woes to convert on nine of its first 11 shots in the half to take their biggest lead at 52-45 with 13:22 remaining.
The Gophers held the lead for the next six minutes but could not come up with either the big bucket on offense or the big stop on defense to take control of the game. With Gopher starters Von Wald and Kadidja Andersson in foul trouble, Iowa chipped away at the Minnesota lead. Hawkeye guard Kristi Faulkner hit a long three-pointer from the left wing at the 6:07 mark and the Hawkeyes never again trailed after that point.
Minnesota pulled back to within a point twice but each rally was answered by an Iowa bucket. After a three-point play by McCarville made it 65-64, On Iowa's next possession, reserve center Jamie Cavey was fouled on a shot and stepped to the line and sank two free throws with 5:04 to go.
When Von Wald's two free throws made it 67-66 Iowa with 3:54 remaining, Faulkner stopped up big, driving to the basket for a layup, picking up Andersson's fifth foul and finishing off the three-point play on the line. After a Von Wald miss, Cavey banked in a short jumper to extend the Hawkeyes' lead to six.
The Gophers were forced to fouling in the final minute of the game and Iowa preserved the upset victory by going 6-for-8 from the line. A Lindsay Lieser three-pointer brought the Gophers? to within two points at 79-77 with four seconds left. The Gophers sent Jennie Lillis to the line with 1.6 seconds left. Lillis made the first, then missed the second. Cavey collected the rebound and the game ended.
Iowa shot 60.0 percent in the second half to finish at an impressive 58.3 percent for the game. Minnesota improved to 52.9 percent in the second half and 43.9 percent by game's end.
Faulkner led four Hawkeyes in double figures with 21. Lillis collected a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Cavey finished with 10, all of her points coming in the second half.
Von Wald was the third Gopher in double digits with 11.
Iowa advances to Sunday's semifinal against Purdue. Penn State and Ohio State will meet in Sunday's other semifinal. Minnesota, 23-5, awaits an NCAA Tournament invitation on Selection Sunday, March 16.
